What is the worst call you have responded to?

Those who work in public safety are often asked about the worst calls they have been on.  Many will share stories of horrible car accidents, devastating fires, or senseless acts of violence.  One of my worst calls was none of these traumatic or headline sensational events; it was of a person having a heart attack.  How can someone having a heart attack be your worst call?  I hope that by the time you finish reading this you will understand.

As has been stated recently in the media and other sources Bedford has two ambulances available for emergency calls, if one of the trucks is out of service for maintenance or other mechanical problems there is only one ambulance for the entire town.  That is one ambulance for a resident population of 23,000 and a commuter population that can be 3 times that. When this happens it is a first come first serve basis on who receives the ambulance.  Since the accident involving one of the town’s ambulances earlier this year that has been the case on a daily basis. More often then not the only available ambulance will be committed to calls on the South River Rd area. When someone calls 911 they are asked several questions to determine the severity of the emergency call.  Certain severe calls will sometimes require additional help to stabilize and treat the person. To provide this extra help a fire engine is sent to assist the ambulance.  Generally speaking cardiac, breathing problems, unconsciousness, and major traumatic injures require the extra help.  If ambulance crew determines the extra help is not needed the fire engine returns to the station and is available for the next call for help.  All of the town’s fire engines have EMS equipment on them and are staffed by the same highly trained advanced EMTs and paramedics who are on the ambulance.  The crew of a fire engine can start treatment but transport to definitive care is greatly delayed without having an ambulance readily available.

 On the day of my story one of the ambulances was out of service due to a major engine problem.  An emergency call came in that the only in service ambulance and a fire truck responded to at a facility in the South River Rd area.  While caring for the first patient an additional 911 emergency call came in requesting an ambulance in the area of Hardy Rd/North Amherst neighborhood.  This call was for a person having a heart attack.   The fire engine was able to clear the first call and start responding to the second call.  A mutual aid ambulance was requested to respond from a neighboring community to assist.  As we were responding we were given updates over the radio that the patient’s condition was deteriorating.  A delay in reaching the scene occurred due to the fire truck being a good distance away from the Constitution Drive station on the first call.

When we arrived it was apparent that the patient was in critical condition. We confirmed with the heart monitor/EKG readings that the patient was in fact having a massive heart attack.  We provided all the treatment we could with the equipment and medications that are carried on the fire engine.  After several minutes the family asked why we weren’t loading them into the ambulance.  It was one of the worst experiences in my career to have to inform the family that we don’t have an ambulance for your loved one here with us.   I told them we have one coming from another community but we have to wait.  It was in this moment that I realized I was essentially telling the patient’s family that their loved one is going to get worse here in their home and there is nothing can we do but continue to wait.

We did all we could, but the patient’s condition continued to decline rapidly.  There is a massive amount of treatment and medications that can be administered by your emergency personnel in the field, however in this case the treatment that will save lives is a cardiologist and a cardiac catherization.   The mutual aid ambulance did ultimately arrive and the patient did get to the hospital. We will never know how much damage was done to the patient’s heart by having to wait for the ambulance.  If the ambulance were able to get there 15 minutes earlier would it have saved more heart tissue?  Would that have allowed the patient to return to their previous quality of life?

 As a resident of this community I know there are major financial considerations facing us this year. Demand for emergency services continue to increase yet the ability to meet these needs is being stretched dangerously thin.  I ask that you please give serious consideration to the proposed substation when voting on March 11.

Stephen Brady

Bedford, NH

emtsteveb@comcast.net

Disclaimer: I am not speaking in any official capacity or representing any agency of the Town of Bedford. These are my own thoughts and statements; I make them as an individual and town resident.